Enah turns nature’s scraps into wearable art

Sarinah Samad, known as Enah, transforms natural elements such as leaves, flowers, and other materials into sustainable wearable art. Based in Segambut, a kampung-style house surrounded by mango and durian trees, Enah draws inspiration for her creations. After leaving her corporate job at the age of 50, she dedicated herself to her passion for art, initially dabbling in visual art before discovering sun-printing.

This technique involves placing leaves, flowers, and other objects onto fabric and exposing them to sunlight to create silhouettes. Enah's work includes garments, hats, tote bags, and accessories, all made from preloved textiles. She also practices botanical pounding, eco-printing, and natural dyeing, often using discarded white linens from hotels as sustainable materials.

Enah's creations range from simple clothing like baju kurung to more intricate designs inspired by the architectural motifs of the Sultan Abdul Samad Clock Tower. In 2025, she was selected to showcase her eco-conscious designs at the "JIWA Kuala Lumpur" fashion show. While Enah values the effort behind each creation, she prefers not to measure success by sales, as each piece is unique due to the use of real leaves and flowers.

Her journey has significantly improved her overall wellbeing, as she no longer experiences asthma attacks and feels like herself again. Enah regularly participates in bazaars around the Klang Valley and runs workshops at her Segambut studio, and is currently preparing for a sustainable fashion exhibition in collaboration with the National Textiles Museum.